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Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database

Central repository for biodiversity related research and monitoring data from the Dutch Caribbean

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  • BioNews 7-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews 7-2017 includes the following news-items:   Status of St. Maarten’s Reef St. Maarten: Impact Hurricane Irma on Nature EPIC...
  • Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Management Update for the Dutch Caribbean
    Since 2014, a new coral disease has been spreading through the reefs of the Caribbean. Known as Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD), this disease...
  • Marine Species discoveries Curaçao
    Curaçao has a remarkably long and rich history of marine species discoveries. This is reflected by a high number of species descriptions in which...
  • BioNews 17-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Infographics of the Dutch Caribbean
    Three infographics on the Dutch Caribbean (in Dutch): Location and size of the Dutch Caribbean (in comparison to the European Netherlands) Threats...
  • Innovative Artificial Reef Structures “IntelliReefs” to Improve Denuded Coral Reefs
    Beginning of February 2020, the Ocean Science Team of Reef Life Foundation was on Sint Maarten to assess and research the 14 month performance of the...
  • Exploring the Saba Bank
    Overview of expeditions to the Saba Bank.   This news article was published in BioNews 31. BioNews is produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance...
  • Call of action to salvage St. Maarten’s coral reefs from new disease
    A new coral disease, Stony Coral Tissue Loss disease, is spreading throughout the Wider Caribbean region and causing high mortality amongst a number...
  • Underwater Sounds around Saba Bank
    Powerpoint Presented at the Saba Bank Symposium 2016 Introduction  Aims of acoustic research Methods Acoustic results and life sound analysis Future...
  • Birds Caribbean Conference, Jamaica
    BirdsCaribbean held its 20th international conference in Kingston Jamaica from 25 to 29 July 2015. The theme of the meeting was “Birds—Connecting...
  • First silky shark sightings by Saba Conservation Foundation
    Whilst nurse sharks and Caribbean reef sharks are regularly spotted on the Saba Bank, it’s not every day that you see silky sharks. During a routine...
  • Status of St. Maarten’s Reef
    Last September, major category 5+ Hurricane Irma caused widespread damage to St. Maarten. This was a strong reminder of the urgency to preserve the...
  • BioNews 28-Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Post-breeding migration routes of marine turtles from Bonaire and Klein Bonaire
    News items on: Becking, L.E.; Christianen, M.J.A.; Nava, M.I.; Miller, N.; Willis, S.; van Dam, R.P. (2016) Post-breeding migration routes of marine...
  • Microplastic Contamination on Beaches of the Lesser Antilles
    Plastic pollution is one of today’s most pressing global challenges. An estimated 4-12 billion kg of plastic enter our oceans annually, where it is...
  • Half a year after hurricane Irma, St.Maarten
    Zes maanden geleden raasde Irma, een orkaan van de zwaarste categorie, over Sint Maarten. De verwoesting was gigantisch. De bewoners pakken sindsdien...
  • Unlocking the Evolutionary Secrets of Local Amphibians and Lizards
    Two new research projects were set out to map the evolution and historical geographical migration of key amphibian and reptile species within the...
  • Saba Bank: Fisheries
    The Saba Bank supports a vibrant local fishing industry. Fishing effort focuses mainly on a trap fishery, targeting lobster and deep water red fish (...
  • Call of action to reduce plastic pollution on St. Maarten
    Residents and businesses of St. Maarten are being urged to abandon the use of single-use, non-biodegradable plasticsto help create a cleaner and...
  • Discovery of a new host coral for a Caribbean parasitic crab species
    Scientists from the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Naturalis Biodiversity Center and the ANEMOON Foundation discovered a new host coral for a...
  • Sea Turtle Convention, Mexico
    The Inter-American Sea Turtle Convention (IAC) convened its seventh Conference of Parties (COP 7) in Mexico City in June this year. Two resolutions...
  • Aruba Shoco Conservation Project
    The Dutch Caribbean Islands are a treasure trove of rare and endemic (sub) species. Island endemic (sub) species, that is (sub) species restricted to...
  • St. Maarten: Impact Hurricane Irma on Nature
    What started out a week prior as a low pressure system off the Cape Verde Islands ended up as the first ever category 5+ hurricane to hit the...
  • Bonaire biodivers paradijs
    Een internationaal onderzoeksteam heeft de mariene biodiversiteit van Bonaire onderzocht. Mariene biodiversiteit zegt iets over de verscheidenheid in...
  • Shark sightings around the SSS Islands
    Shark sightings around the SSS islands (Saba, St. Eustatius and St. Maarten) are currently being recorded to provide information on the occurrence of...
  • How to Respond to a Sargassum Influx
    In May 2018 the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) launched a new infographic guide for the tourism sector on to how to respond to the...
  • NICO Science Expedition to the Dutch Caribbean
    December 13th marked the beginning of an incredibly exciting and ambitious research expedition organized by the Royal Netherlands Institute of Sea...
  • BioNews 33 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Managing the Saba Bank
    This news item is based on presentations given at the Saba Bank Symposium in December 2016. It was published in BioNews 31. BioNews is produced by ...
  • Persbericht “De bok bepaalt de halve kudde”
    Press article on workshop goat farming- Bonaire
  • Millions of sightings by citizens contribute to mapping Biodiversity
    Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) provides a global platform for citizen scientists to upload biological observations from anywhere in...
  • Yarari Sanctuary established
    During her visit to Saba and Bonaire at the beginning of September 2015, State Secretary of Economic Affairs, Mrs. Sharon Dijksma, publicly announced...
  • BioNews 12-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter PRINT
    In BioNews 12-2018 you will find articles on: Aruba Shoco Conservation Project First Silky Shark Sightings by Saba Conservation Foundation! NICO...
  • EPIC Continues: Restoration Project
    EPIC Continues Restoration Project – Focus on restoration of native forest, increasing biodiversity and environmental education Earlier this summer...
  • Interview with Elsmarie Beukenboom on conservation and tourism on Bonaire
    Elsmarie Beukenboom was the first board representative for Stichting Nationale Parken Bonaire (STINAPA Bonaire) when the Dutch Caribbean Nature...
  • 68th annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) meeting, Panama
    Last November (Nov. 9th to Nov.15th), a Dutch Caribbean Delegation attended the 68th annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) meeting in...
  • Health is Wealth: A One Health Approach to control vector-born diseases and promote sustainability
    At the Sustainability Conference held on St. Eustatius in December 2017, the panel “Health is Wealth” explored the interrelationship between the...
  • Mas Piska pa Boneiru: Less talk more action
    Identifying and overcoming bottlenecks in fisheries management on Bonaire. Fishing is one of the oldest professions in the Dutch Caribbean. Many...
  • Survey of Free Roaming Livestock on St. Eustatius
    The Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI) recently conducted surveys of free-roaming livestock on St. Eustatius, highlighting population...
  • Saba Bank: marine mammals
    The Northern Caribbean is a well-known breeding and calving ground for North Atlantic humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) and considerable ...
  • Persbericht “Kriabon en toekomst geitenhouderij”
    Press article on: Kriabon and the future of goat farming- Bonaire
  • BioNews Special Edition: Sustainable Tourism
    Prior to the Corona virus pandemic, the trends for tourism in the Caribbean were pressing for cheaper and more varied options. There was a pressure...
  • Radar surveys of Audubon’s Shearwater
    To better protect Audubon’s Shearwaters, Adam Brownfrom Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), in partnership with the Saba Conservation...
  • Video message from St. Eustatius’s local Iguana
    St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA) has released a video message from the endangered Lesser Antillean Iguana. Developed by Veldkijker,...
  • BioNews 13-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Marine Protected Areas - a new interactive online map
    The Dutch Caribbean has a new way to access marine protected area (MPA) information focused on ease of use for boaters, fishermen, and the public....
  • Diet and growth of juvenile queen conch Lobatus gigas (Gastropoda: Strombidae) in native, mixed and invasive seagrass habitats
    ABSTRACT: Juvenile queen conch are primarily associated with native seagrass such as Thalassia testudinum in large parts of their range in the...
  • Lionfish Culling: the Solution to Managing Lionfish Populations in the Dutch Caribbean?
    One of the most talked about fish in the Caribbean Region is an exotic looking fish with eye-catching stripes and remarkable feathery pectoral fins:...
  • BioNews 18-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • St. Eustatius: economic value of nature
    The Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI) hosted two “Economic Value of Nature” workshops on St. Eustatius from 3-6 April 2017. These...
  • New Butterfly Census for the Dutch Caribbean Windward Islands
    The results of a four-year study were just published, cataloging the butterfly species of St. Eustatius over the winter months of 2009- 2012. This...
  • Saba Bank: recommendations
    This news item comes from the Saba Bank Symposium in December 2016 (Becking & Meesters, 2017) .   This news article was published in BioNews 31....
  • Kriabon ta pone kondishon na plan di kabritu
    Kriabon- Goat Plan
  • Invasive Alien Species strategy
    News article on: Smith, S.R., W.J. van der Burg, A.O. Debrot, G. van Buurt, J.A. de Freitas (2014) Key elements towards a Joint Invasive Alien...
  • Urgent Conservation Action Needed to Save the Lesser Antillean Iguana
    The Lesser Antillean Iguana is an endangered endemic reptile found in the Lesser Antilles whose population is rapidly decreasing. Although once also...
  • Bonaire World Heritage Nomination Project
    The Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP) has received a number of international recognitions due to the outstanding biodiversity that it protects and...
  • Invasive Seagrass and its effects on Juvenile Queen Conch
    As invasive seagrass continues to expand and replace native species, populations such as the queen conch are seeing significant changes to their...
  • Waterbird monitoring in Curaçao
    Following the Caribbean Waterbird Census Monitoring Training workshop given by Lisa Sorenson (BirdsCaribbean) and Je Gerbracht (Cornell) at Carmabi...
  • Aruba’s Value of Nature
    There is strong link between economy and nature in the Dutch Caribbean due to our economic dependence on nature-based tourism. TEEB Aruba - The...
  • International Meeting on Protection of Sharks
    From November 20-24th, 2017 a group of international shark experts gathered at Captain Don’s Habitat on Bonaire to discuss measures for the...
  • Sustainable Island Solutions through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (SISSTEM)
    On August 1, 2019 the SISSTEM project kicked off at the University of Aruba, an ambitious program aimed at the development of critical capacity for...
  • Saba Bank: Sharks
    Want to know the best place to see sharks in the Netherlands? Recent studies would seem to indicate that it’s the Saba Bank! Researchers on early...
  • Cursus geiten- en schapenhouderij
    Press article: Course goat and sheep farming- Bonaire
  • Dermal parasites on coral reef fish
    In 2013 Dr. Martin de Graaf from IMARES noted an unusually high number of coral reef fish at the Salt Pier on Bonaire, infected with dermal parasites...
  • NICO Expedition: Mapping the Sea Bottom
    Researchers aboard the Pelagia research vessel have been collecting invaluable data on marine biomes in the Caribbean since January as part of the “...
  • BioNews 8-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews 8-2017 includes the following news-items:   Status of Saba Bank’s reefs Economic value of Sharks Annual Shark Conference of the European...
  • BioNews 29 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Dutch Caribbean sharks celebrated throughout the Kingdom
    During Dutch Caribbean Shark Week that was scheduled from June 18th thru 26th, the entire Dutch Kingdom celebrated sharks, both as important ocean...
  • Mapping and Studying Changing Coral Reefs:  Is the Saba Bank still growing?
    Researchers aboard the Pelagia research vessel have been collecting invaluable data on the Windward islands in the Caribbean during the sixth leg of...
  • New Bird Records for Bonaire 2016-2017
    The island of Bonaire has achieved worldwide recognition for its rich and diverse marine life, but the island is rapidly gaining momentum as a...
  • Genetic Analysis Finds Link in Coral Diseases
    New research links two known coral diseases, skeletal eroding band and Caribbean ciliate infection, to a single originating pathogen. Studying the...
  • The Netherlands’ Largest National Park
    For the longest time, the Saba Bank has been the largest and richest forgotten treasure within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It lies just 5...
  • Cursus geiten- en schapenhouderij
    Press article: Course goat and sheep farming- Bonaire
  • SPAW: new protected areas, new species!
    In December 2014, the 8th SPAW (Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife) Protocol Conference of Parties (COP8) in Cartagena, Colombia, recognized...
  • New Sea Turtle Monitoring Methods
    Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) has worked tirelessly since 1991 to protect Bonaire’s sea turtle population and to ensure a safe, protected...
  • Status of Saba Bank’s reefs
    The Saba Bank remained an unexplored and mysterious offshore submerged carbonate platform until very recently. Research on the Saba Bank was first...
  • New Study on Red-Bellied Racer Populations on St. Eustatius
    In 2018 and 2019, RAVON/CNSI interns conducted a study on St. Eustatius to better understand the red-bellied racer population. Threatened by habitat...
  • What motivates people to protect nature on the islands of Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba?
    That is the research question that, Stacey Mac Donald, a PhD researcher from The Netherlands, is seek- ing to answer through the use of...
  • St. Maarten: Post Hurricane Coral Assessment
    The St. Maarten Nature Foundation scientifically researched the impacts of Hurricane Irma on St. Maarten coral reefs using Global Coral Reef...
  • BioNews 11-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • BioNews 34-Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • The Nature Funding projects
    With ‘Nature’ funding from the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and support of the local governments several projects are now running to maintain...
  • Explore the Bara di Karta
  • Shark Tracking on Saba
    News article on: Winter, H.V., D. Vink, I.J.M. van Beek (2015) Pilot study on behaviour of sharks around Saba using acoustic telemetry – Progress...
  • POP Bonaire: Rural Development Program: 2014-2018
    Increasing concern over Bonaire’s dependence on dive tourism and the importation of food products has led the government to push for the sustainable...
  • Economic Value of Sharks
    Shark populations around the globe have been in rapid decline for the past decades as overfishing and habitat loss have severely reduced their...
  • Human disturbance impedes growth of coral reefs around Bonaire
    The coral reef around Bonaire is known to be one of the healthiest in the Caribbean. However, new research by Wageningen Marine Research shows that a...
  • Have you recently seen -or not seen- long-spined sea urchin Diadema antillarum on Caribbean reefs?
    The early 80’s die-off of Diadema antillarum and the subsequent reef degradation is by now a well-discussed and studied topic throughout the...
  • Caribbean Marine Park Managers Dive into Fisheries Management
    Representatives from 15 Caribbean marine national parks recently met on the island of Saba in the Caribbean Netherlands to focus on their role in...
  • Sorobon and Lagoen covered by sargassum
    March 6, 2018 Sorobon en Lagoen overspoeld door sargassum. Sinds gisteren is er een enorme invasie van sargassum wier aan de oostkust. Sorobon en...
  • Protecting Saba’s Painted Black Iguanas
    New research describes a unique species of iguana for the islands of Saba and Monserrat. The painted black iguana, with its distinct black coloration...
  • BioNews 2-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews 2-2017 includes the following news items: Nature Funding Projects BES islands - P. Hoetjes Restoring Bonaire’s dry forest Tiger shark crosses...
  • BioNews 23- Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Mangroves and seagrass beds as nurseries
    News article on: Hylkema, A., W. Vogelaar, H.W.G. Meesters, I. Nagelkerken, A.O. Debrot (2014) Fish Species Utilization of Contrasting sub-Habitats...
  • BioNews 13-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter PRINT
    BioNews* is a free digital newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) featuring recent nature related news-items about the...
  • Annual Shark Conference of the European Elasmobranch Association
    For three days in October 2017, Amsterdam became the shark capitol of Europe, as 150 scientists, policymakers and nature conservationists from all...
  • New Study Sheds Light on Marine Traffic’s Impact on Whales
    The Caribbean Humpback Acoustic Monitoring Program (CHAMP) used acoustic recorders to gain insight on local humpback whale populations, expanding...
  • Upcoming Shark Tagging Expedition on the Saba Bank
    Little is known about the current state of shark populations in the Dutch Caribbean, even less is known about their behavior and which areas they use...
  • BioNews 19-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • News item: Hyperspectral Coral Reef Classification (HCRC)
    The Dutch Caribbean island Bonaire has protected its marine resources for more than 35 years and has been ranked as one of the Caribbean’s top dive...
  • Get to Know Bonaire’s Seaweeds
    The 2019 Naturalis Biodiversity Center and ANEMOON Foundation expeditions worked, among other things, to catalog the wide variety of seaweeds off the...
  • Nature Funding: Restoring Bonaire’s dry forest
    Forest degradation is believed to be driving Yellow-shouldered Amazon parrots (Amazona barbadensis) to forage feed in urban areas, which leads to...
  • State of Nature in the Caribbean Netherlands: St. Eustatius
    Wageningen Research recently published an alarming report on the natural resources of the three Caribbean Netherlands islands (Bonaire, Saba and St....
  • Boa constrictor
    The Boa constrictor was first documented on Aruba in 1999 and they have since rapidly expanded their population size and distribution across the...
  • BioNews 14-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Combating Erosion and Nature Restoration on Bonaire
    Erosion and resulting sediment run-off are big environmental concerns throughout the Caribbean Region and for good reason. Not only does the removal...
  • BioNews 25-Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Sunscreens and Corals: Oxybenzone
    Coral reefs face innumerable human-induced threats including climate change, sedimentation, pollution and destructive fishing practices all of which...
  • Coral Restoration Bonaire
    The Nature funding from the Netherlands’ Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) (previously Ministry of Economic Affairs), has helped...
  • BioNews archive
    DCNA produces BioNews*, a free monthly digital newsletter featuring recent nature related news-items about the Dutch Caribbean as well as overviews...
  • New discoveries on relationships between host corals, crabs and christmas tree worms
    A series of recent surveys worked to highlight the important relationships between host corals, crabs and christmas tree worms. Studies were...
  • BioNews 1 - Last quarter 2012
    This first issue presents you with an overview of the on-going research and monitoring efforts focusing on the last quarter of 2012. In future issues...
  • Tiger shark crosses thirteen maritime boundaries in four weeks
    A tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) tagged with a satellite transmitter by scientists and researchers from Saba, Sint Maarten and the United States has...
  • Sustainable Tourism: Current State
    Each of the six Dutch Caribbean islands have their own unique draw, enticing visitors from around the world each year. From environments ranging from...
  • A Decade of Lionfish Management on Bonaire
    Lionfish were first spotted off the coast of Bonaire back in 2009.  Since then, STINAPA has been working alongside a cast of dedicated volunteers to...
  • Statia Marine Expedition
    In June 2015, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, in collaboration with “Anemoon Foundation”, launched a new initiative in the Dutch Caribbean with the...
  • Recreational SCUBA Diver impact in Bonaire
    Recent research by CIEE Research Station Bonaire led by Dr. Patrick Lyons examined the effects of recreational SCUBA divers on the abundance of...
  • Environmental DNA reveals tropical shark diversity in contrasting levels of anthropogenic impact
    Increased and targeted fishing pressure has led to the collapse of shark populations around the world. According to worldwide estimates, a staggering...
  • BioNews 9-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews 9-2017 includes the following news-items: Bad News For Green Sea Turtles In An Age Of Warming Seas: warmer oceans drive declining growth...
  • At least ten reef-associated shark species in the Dutch Caribbean
    Wageningen Marine Research reported ten reef-associated shark species in the Dutch Caribbean in a recent published study as part of Dutch Caribbean...
  • Coral Reef Mapping using hyperspectral imagery
    The Dutch Caribbean island Bonaire has been protecting its marine resources for more than 35 years and is ranked as one of the Caribbean’s top dive...
  • St. Eustatius: Bridled Quail-Dove Population Continues Declining
    In the December 2017 edition of BioNews, we provided an overview of the results of two population assessments of the Bridled Quail-dove (Geotrygon...
  • BioNews 12-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Using Lemon Trees to Combat Coralita on Saba
    Between December 2017 and June 2018, members of the St. John’s community planted five lemon trees to bring attention to and work towards the...
  • BioNews 2 - January/February 2013
    This issue of BioNews profiles the research and monitoring efforts for January and February 2013 and highlights a new monthly feature, called ‘...
  • Great news for shark and ray conservation in the Caribbean (SPAW-STAC)
    The first cross-border protective management in a Wider Caribbean context for elasmobranch species. In March 2017 it was officially decided to...
  • Sustainable Tourism: Sustainable Tourism
    Overview The goal of sustainable tourism is to maximize visitors’ enjoyment while minimizing environmental and societal impact. The idea is that by...
  • Study reveals large number of new bird species for the island of Saba
    The birds of Saba were studied for two years to clarify the composition of the island’s avifauna, with the addition of observationsmade by reliable...
  • Dutch Caribbean Research Institutes
    News items on: Research Station CARMABI Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI) CIEE Research Station Bonaire   These news articles were...
  • NICO expedition: eddies
    NICO expedition: eddies Rising ocean temperatures associated with global warming are changing our oceans and are projected to have a considerable...
  • Bad News For Green Sea Turtles In An Age Of Warming Seas: warmer oceans drive declining growth rates
    A number of studies have investigated the effect of climate change on sea turtles, such as the loss of nesting beaches from sea level rise (Fish et ...
  • Dutch Government Announces New International Shark Strategy
    The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) has recently published a strategy to manage and protect sharks and rays within...
  • Aruba Birdlife Conservation releases new bird checklist: number of bird species for Aruba has increased
    News article on: Aruba Birdlife Conservation, Checklist version 2, ABC Birds of Aruba September 5, 2016-254 species   This news article was published...
  • Two Dutch Caribbean Tagged Tiger Sharks Follow Similar Migration Patterns in the Caribbean
    Two years ago the DCNA organized the first of its kind shark tagging expedition to the Saba Bank and St Maarten as part of the Dutch Postcode Lottery...
  • Invasive Species Workshop on St. Eustatius
    Twenty-five participants attended an informative workshop on invasive species on November 28th and 29th 2017. The Caribbean Netherlands Science...
  • BioNews 35 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • BioNews 3 - March 2013
    From a global perspective, March has been busy when it comes to regulatory affairs with the CITES meeting in Bangkok, Thailand, in which worldwide...
  • Listening to the Caribbean’s Humpback Whales with CHAMP
    In December 2016, after many months of planning, ten recording devices were successfully deployed throughout the Caribbean to listen to the sounds...
  • Sustainable Tourism: Issues
    Although tourism drives local economies on these slands, it is not without a cost. The strain on local infrastructure, environment and supply needs...
  • Tree Adoption website to help heal Bonaire’s dry forests
    Echo is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the Yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot (Amazona barbadensis) on Bonaire, and the unique dry-...
  • Ecology and conservation of sea turtles in the Dutch Caribbean
    Early in 2015 the research project “Ecology and conservation of green and hawksbill turtles in the Dutch Caribbean” started funded by NWO.  The six...
  • Bonaire Caves and Karst Nature Reserve
    Bonaire has a rich and complex geological history which is reflected in its current geological landscape. While the core of the island is comprised...
  • Saba: Goat Buy Back Project
    The 2013-2017 Nature Policy for the Caribbean Netherlands flagged the threat of invasive species as a high priority, with recent inventories...
  • Crowdfunding: Tortuga ‘The Survival of Humanity’
    Motivation In March 2018 I went to Curaçao for six months. I have been able to take a lot of underwater shots here and have experienced the problems...
  • Climate change impacts within the Dutch Caribbean
    The most recent climate change predictions for the Caribbean region (2013/2014) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are alarming...
  • Erosion around Kralendijk, Bonaire
    In areas with sparse vegetation, intense rainfall events can loosen the soil material, after which it is transported away towards the ocean by...
  • NICO Expedition: Mesophotic reefs, Cyanobacteria mats and Submarine Groundwater Discharge around the ABC-islands
    After setting sail from Texel, The Netherlands in December 2017, the research vessel Pelagia travelled to Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao where a multi-...
  • Leeward Blindsnake: Native to St. Eustatius
    Using DNA-and morphological analysis, a team from Reptile, Amphibian and Fish Conservation Netherlands (RAVON) and Naturalis have discovered that the...
  • BioNews 4 - April 2013
    This month’s issue focuses on the conservation efforts for the Red-billed Tropicbird, which is taking place on the islands of Saba and St. Eustatius...
  • UV- filters in sun care products as an emerging risk for Caribbean coral reefs
    Researchers from the Wageningen Marine Research, under the leadership of water quality specialist and ecologist Dr. Diana Slijkerman, have been...
  • Sustainable Tourism: Recommendations
    Developing a sustainable tourism plan to be implemented within the Dutch Caribbean will require integration and teamwork at all levels. Although...
  • BioNews 24- Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Invasive species in the Dutch Caribbean: foreign foes or alien allies?
    The aim of Utrecht University’s recently started NWO- funded research project “Invasive species in the Dutch Caribbean: foreign foes or alien allies...
  • BioNews 14-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter PRINT
  • Saba: Horticultural Project
    Thanks to generous funding from The Netherlands Ministry of Economics Affairs through the Nature Fund, the Island Government of Saba is implementing...
  • Bonaire Caves and Karst Nature Reserve Update
    The Bonaire Caves and Karst Nature Reserve is an ongoing project aiming to ensure the sustainable use and protection of Bonaire’s cave system, using...
  • Climate change impacts on sea turtle nesting within the Dutch Caribbean
    The effect of climate change on fragile populations of endemic and endangered species has become a topic of special concern, with one creature that...
  • Crowned Slaty Flycatcher: another new bird for Bonaire and for the Kingdom of the Netherlands
    In BioNews 11 (2017) an article was dedicated to the eight bird species that in 2016 and 2017 were added to the Bonaire-bird list. One of these, Pied...
  • Bonaire Turtle by the Numbers: STCB Year Report 2019
    Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire 2019 Year Report Referenced in BioNews 35 article "Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire: A Year in Review"
  • BioNews 5 - May 2013
    This month’s issue focuses on coral reef restoration efforts; research by SECORE and CARMABI on Curaçao and a private initiative by the Coral...
  • Volunteers will count endangered species in St. Eustatius (Anemoon)
    The ANEMOON Foundation is a Dutch volunteer organization of citizen scientists who are interested in sea life. The Foundation has started a project...
  • Bonaire 2050, a nature inclusive vision
    This is a story about one of the Dutch Caribbean islands: Bonaire. A story that is shaped by the people of Bonaire and that may help develop this...
  • New and Very Abundant Microbe Found Living in Corals
    Although coral reefs occupy less than 1% of the ocean floor, nearly a third of all marine species can be found on or around these reefs (McAllister,...
  • Effect of invasive predators on breeding success of threatened Red-billed Tropicbirds
    Update on one of the world’s largest nesting population on Saba and St. Eustatius.   This news articles was published in BioNews 20 BioNews is...
  • Statian invasions
    This news-item was published in the Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute Annual Report 2017 Introduced predators such as cats, dogs, and rats are ...
  • Hurricane Impacts on Bridled Quail-doves in St. Eustatius
    An immediate concern after hurricanes Irma and Maria fell to the Bridled Quail-dove, a species that forages for fruits and seeds on the forest floor...
  • BioNews 30 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Ocean acidification and global warming impacts on sharks
    Sharks have populated our oceans for millions of years, but in just a few decades a slew of anthropogenic pressures have caused shark populations...
  • BioNews 20 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire: A Year in Review
    Sea Turtle Conservation Bonaire (STCB) recently published their 2019 annual report. Last year marked an important year as new research provided...
  • BioNews 6 - June/July 2013
    This month’s issue focuses on the development of the Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database, which addresses one of the biggest gaps for nature...
  • Sustainable Island Management students visit Statia in a 2-week fieldtrip
    In November  2016 10 students and 2 lecturers from Van Hall Larenstein, University of Applied Sciences exchanged Leeuwarden for a 2-week fieldtrip to...
  • BioNews 39 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Environmental DNA FOR Lionfish Mapping
    When a new species is introduced to a foreign environment, it can upset the natural balance.  One such example, was the introduction of the Pacific...
  • Oct. 2015: Third Saba Bank expedition
    A select group of researchers from IMARES and several other institutions came together from October 17th to October 31st 2015 to conduct the third...
  • Saba Bank video documentary
    Video documentary describing the importance of the Saba Bank as a natural resource for the island of Saba, including underwater footage and...
  • BioNews 10-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews 10-2017 includes the following news-items: Ecological Restoration Lac Bay and South Coast, Bonaire Bonaire: Roi Sango (EU BEST 2.0) Status of...
  • First Survey of Arachnids on ABC Islands in over 100 years: 25 new records and 20 species new to science
    A 2004-2005 study led by a researcher from the California Academy of Science worked to catalog arachnid species (such as spiders and scorpions) on...
  • Expert meeting on the management of sharks in the Caribbean Netherlands
    On October 3rd and 4th the Ministry of Economic Affairs, in cooperation with the Dutch Elasmobranch Society, organized an expert meeting on the...
  • New Research in the Conservation of Sea Turtles on Their Nesting Beaches
    New research led by Swansea University’s College of Scienceand recently published in Scientific Reportshas reported effective conservation strategies...
  • Drastic effects of coralita on the biodiversity of insects and spiders
    A study by researchers from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam shows that the invasive plant coralita and urban development have led to large, distinct...
  • BioNews 7 - August 2013
    This month’s issue focuses attention on three successful conservation efforts of local NGOs, which are using monitoring to guide their field-based...
  • BioNews 3-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews 3-2017 includes the following news items: Status of Bonaire’s reefs Natuurgelden Projects: Coral Restoration on Bonaire and St. Eustatius...
  • Tracking Sharks around Sint Maarten
    The St. Maarten Nature Foundation recently retrieved acoustic receivers (loggers) to learn about the movement patterns and home ranges of Caribbean...
  • 40-year study: Changes on the Coral Reefs of Bonaire and Curaçao
    Although it’s now becoming widely accepted that coral reefs are degrading quickly on a global scale, there have been very few long-term studies where...
  • Island biogeography meets the Anthropocene - The first expedition.
    Many modern human activities result in environmental problems such as pollution, overfishing and deforestation, which have a considerable impact on...
  • The Nature Funding Projects
    In the wake of the constitutional change in 2010, the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs (now the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food...
  • Ecological Restoration Lac Bay and South Coast, Bonaire
    Lac Bay is the largest semi-enclosed bay in the Dutch Caribbean, offering visitors breathtaking views, white sandy beaches and shallow turquoise...
  • New marine biodiversity discoveries from Bonaire
    An international research team has investigated the marine biodiversity of Bonaire from 21 October to 9 November. Although Bonaire’s reefs have been...
  • Unique shark tagging expedition to the Saba Bank
    In October 2016, the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) organized a unique shark tagging expedition to the Saba Bank. Little is currently known...
  • Dutch Caribbean: “home” of unique, and likely vulnerable, populations of Bryde’s and humpback whales
    During the last decade several marine areas in the Wider Caribbean have been awarded extra protection as “marine mammal reserves”, such as the the...
  • Nature and Environment Policy Plan 2020-2030
    The Dutch Ministries of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Infrastructure and Water Management and Interior and Kingdom Relations released a...
  • BioNews 8 - September 2013
    This month’s issue focuses attention on the conservation efforts on the Windward side of the Dutch Caribbean. On St. Maarten, these days sharks are...
  • Status of Bonaire’s reefs
    While the coral reefs around Bonaire have suffered in recent decades from regional phenomena such as repeated bleaching events, urchin die-off, coral...
  • Recovery of Orbicella annularis corals from parrotfish predation
    Orbicella annularis is an important reef-building coral and an endangered species. Previous studies suggest it is also one of the most intensely...
  • Bonaire Welcomes Back Indiana University
    A group of students from Indiana University (IU) recently visited Bonaire.   Since 2015, IU has been sending students to Bonaire as part of their...
  • First sighting of a pied water tyrant within the Kingdom of the Netherlands
    This news article was published in BioNews 21 BioNews is produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance and funded by the Ministry of Economic...
  • Theme: Nature in the Dutch Caribbean
    Articles on STENAPA, CNSI, fauna on St. Maarten, Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance, Nature education Curacao, Bonaire's reefs, STINAPA
  • Bonaire: Roi Sango (EU BEST 2.0)
    Starting in 2016, Echo – a small nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to protecting the Yellow-shouldered Amazon parrot – has been working...
  • Rise of a new reef coral species on Curaçao
    A presumably invasive coral species that was discovered on the reefs around Curaçao is not invasive after all. The coral is in fact a native species...
  • NIOZ Saba Bank Expedition: Environmental impacts on carbon metabolism of reef ecosystems
    NIOZ organised an expedition to the Saba Bank aboard the research vessel “Pelagia” from 19th August to 8th September 2016. Thirteen scientists from...
  • Three new exotic gecko species identified on Curaçao
    As part of the Caribbean Island Biogeography meets the Anthropocene project, researchers initiated their surveys for exotic reptile and amphibian...
  • BioNews 36 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • BioNews 9 - October 2013
    This month’s issue focuses attention on a very important species group – butterflies. Due to their sensitivity to environmental conditions,...
  • Natuurgelden projects: coral restoration on Bonaire and St. Eustatius
    This news article was published in BioNews 3-2017. BioNews is produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance and funded by the Ministry of Economic...
  • Importance of Seagrass and Macroalgae in the Protection of Coastlines
    Researchers from the Netherlands and Mexico studied three bays on Saint Martin to illustrate the ability of seagrass and algae fields to withstand...
  • BioNews 26-2019 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • 12th meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Inter- American Sea Turtle Convention (IAC)
    The Scientific Committee (SC) of the IAC meets annually to discuss the annual reports of the member countries, and threats and impacts on sea turtles...
  • BioNews 15-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Status of the Queen Conch on the Windward Islands
    Concern for the future of Queen Conch has resulted in a number of regional and international measures, which have been taken to protect them. Trade...
  • Changes in Curaçao’s Fish Population Over the 20th Century
    A recently published study looked to compare Curaçao’s historical records of fish catches between the years 1905 and 2016. This study highlights...
  • The Smithsonian Institution’s Deep Reef Observation Project (DROP)
    Compared to shallow coral reefs there has been very little scientific research on reefs below 45 meters largely due to limitations imposed by SCUBA...
  • Sea & Learn 2018
    This year Sea & Learn celebrated their 16thannual event on Saba. A total of 16 experts provided dynamic hands-on field projects and powerful...
  • Sunscreen increases the damaging effects of climate change on coral reefs
    In recent years, there has been an increase in the detection of UV filters from sunscreens in coastal waters. A new study by Wageningen University...
  • BioNews 10 - November 2013
    This month’s issue highlights the Saba Bank Expedition that took place from 19 to 27 October. As a follow up to the Saba Bank survey in 2011, an...
  • Conference – Coastal Dynamics and Ecosystem Change: Caribbean, Quo Vadis?
    This news article was published in BioNews 3-2017. BioNews is produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance and funded by the Ministry of Economic...
  • BioNews 40 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • State of Nature: Bonaire
    Wageningen Research recently published an alarming report on the natural resources of the three Dutch Caribbean islands Bonaire, Saba and St....
  • Where have all the crinoids gone?
    Colorful feather stars (comatulid crinoids, Phylum Echinodermata) were plentiful on the reefs of Curaçao and Bonaire in the late 1960s when David...
  • Bonaire’s Yearly Parrot Count
    Every year on Bonaire, dozens of dedicated volunteers wake up before dawn with one simple but important mission: count as many yellow-shouldered...
  • St. Eustatius: Nature Awareness Project
    In October 2016, a two-year project to increase awareness and understanding of nature on St. Eustatius commenced, funded by the Ministry of Economic...
  • Special Edition: Safeguarding Nature Projects
    In the wake of the constitutional change in 2010, the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature & Food Quality, as part of its Nature Policy Plan for...
  • Scientific Assessment of Curaçao’s Reefs
    Blue Halo Curaçao, a partnership between the Waitt Institute and the Government of Curaçao, in close cooperation with researchers from CARMABI and...
  • Manatee sighting on Bonaire
    manateeBonaire.mp4 Manatee in the Bonaire National Marine Park On July 10th, STINAPA ranger Luigi Eybrecht filmed...
  • Predictions for coral spawning events in the Southern Caribbean for 2020
    Based on last year’s surveys, a prediction is now available of expected times and dates that some of the more abundant Caribbean coral species will...
  • BioNews 11 - December 2013
    This month’s issue focuses on the Audubon’s Shearwater. Despite its resounding and unique call, this threatened bird often goes unnoticed on our...
  • BioNews 4-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews 4-2017 includes the following news-items: Status of Curaçao’s Reefs Researchers discover that the three known flamingo tongue snail species...
  • In loving memory of Paul Hoetjes, a legend in nature conservation
    It is with great and profound sadness that we have to say goodbye to Paul Hoetjes, a legend in nature conservation in the Dutch Caribbean and...
  • Satellites and Sharks: Latest in Saba Bank Shark Research
    The Saba Bank is an important habitat within the Yarari Shark Sanctuary.  Visited by a variety of different species, little is known about the life...
  • Agoa Sanctuary Management Board Meeting, St. Martin, November 5, 2015.
    In 2012 France established a marine mammal sanctuary, named Agoa after “Maï d’Agoa”, Mother or Spirit of the Water in Amerindian mythology. The Agoa...
  • Sunscreen Awareness Bonaire- Moving towards a oxybenzone free island
    Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) and Boneiru Duradero (BD) supported by World Wide Fund for Nature the Netherlands (WWF-NL)organised a Sunscreen...
  • Dutch Caribbean Species Register
    On December 5, 2017, the launch of the Dutch Caribbean Species Register took place: www. dutchcaribbeanspecies.org. This website is intended to...
  • Special Edition: State of Nature in the Caribbean Netherlands
    Wageningen Research recently published an alarming report on the natural resources of the Caribbean Netherlands islands Bonaire, Saba and St....
  • Naturalis Expedition to St. Eustatius: discovering a new species of land snail
    Since 2010 the tiny island of Sint Eustatius, or Statia, as it is known locally, has been a special municipality of the Netherlands. And despite...
  • BioNews 21- Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Coral Spawning Predictions for the South Caribbean
    Caribbean Research and Management of Biodiversity (CARMABI) has released its annual coral spawning prediction calendar for the south Caribbean. This...
  • BioNews 12 - January 2014
    Very exciting news this month from St. Eustatius where the ongoing study of the island’s flora led to the discovery of a plant species new to science...
  • Status of Curaçao’s Reefs
    The island of Curaçao is almost entirely surrounded by narrow fringing reef that covers an estimated area of 7.85 km2 (Vermeij, 2012).  These reefs,...
  • Bonaire 2050, a nature inclusive vision
    Results from a series of designs sessions, workshops and interviews describe a vision for Bonaire in 2050. In this vision, measures to combat...
  • Rodent Control Implemented to Help Save Tropicbirds on Statia
    Black rats (Rattus rattus) probably arrived on St. Eustatius along with the first Europeans. While a nuisance for the human population, their...
  • Climate change impacts on Caribbean calcifying algae: why it matters
    Rising temperatures, ocean acidification and increased storm frequency are threatening coastal Caribbean ecosystems. An important group of organisms...
  • Molluscs of the Dutch Caribbean Islands
    The journal of the Netherlands Malacological Society, Vita Malacologica, dedicated its December 2017 edition to the malacofauna of the Dutch...
  • What's Bonaire's nature worth? 2011-2012
    This Initiative draws attention to the economic benefits of biodiversity and highlights the growing costs of biodiversity loss and ecosystem...
  • Special Edition: Transboundary Species
    There has been a recent increase in public awareness of environmental issues as the effects of climate change have become ever more noticeable in our...
  • Naturalis Marine Expedition: Results marine biodiversity of St. Eustatius
    In September, a report on the preliminary results of the Statia Marine Biodiversity Expedition (from June 2015) was published. This expedition served...
  • Unexpected high number of endemics for the windward Dutch Caribbean Islands
    In light of the mounting impact of humans on our planet, there is an urgent need to assess the status of all current living species so as to ensure...
  • Eleven Species of Mosquitoes found on Leeward Dutch Caribbean Islands
    A 2018 study of mosquito populations on the islands of Sint Maarten, Saba and Sint Eustatius documented eleven different species, including two new...
  • BioNews 13 - February 2014
    This month’s issue profiles several scientific discoveries with new implications for conservation in the Dutch Caribbean. On St. Eustatius, the first...
  • Researchers discover that the three known flamingo tongue snail species are in fact just one species
    Two researchers at Naturalis and Oxford University Museum of Natural History, Bastian Reijnen and Sancia van der Meij, recently carried out research...
  • Adopt a proactive attitude towards nonnative Green iguana biosecurity
    Mainly since the 60’s has the green iguana continuously expanded its nonnative range, especially throughout the Greater Caribbean region, and despite...
  • Dutch Caribbean Biodiversity Database: The Future of Data Sharing
    A big obstacle in nature- policy, management and research is to access excising long-term data in an environment that experiences a high turnover in...
  • The Humpbacks are Back!
    We have some wonderful news to share! The magnificent humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) have returned for their four-to five-month long stay...
  • AcroporaNet Symposium
    AcroporaNet Symposium  University of Applied Sciences Van Hall Larenstein  (HVHL) invites you to the third annual AcroporaNet Symposium to be held in...
  • This Little Island is a Haven for Migratory Shorebirds
    Fernando and I are at our one of our “high density” points (counting stations) on the Cargill Salt Production Facility in southern Bonaire. We are...
  • BioNews 31 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Alarm bells ring as turtle growth rates decline
    An unprecedented regional study of turtle growth rates by Bjorndal et al, compiled scientific data on hawksbill turtle growth rates collected over a...
  • Invasive seagrass Halophila stipulacea discovered on Saba
    Park ranger Jelle van der Velde has identified the presence of Halophila stipulaceaat the Queen B. II mooring east of Fort Bay. The discovery, made...
  • The Value of Seagrasses to the Environment and to the People. Summary for Policy Makers
    Summary For Policymakers This global synthesis report highlights the unique range of values provided by seagrasses to people around the world. It...
  • BioNews 14 - February 2014
    This month’s issue focuses on marine monitoring. The results of the 2013 lobster fisheries monitoring project on the Saba Bank are in and on Curaçao...
  • Biodiversity of Dutch Caribbean Reefs
    The coral reefs of the Dutch Caribbean have recently received much attention in the scientific journal Marine Biodiversity. The first issue of 2017...
  • Using Digital Footprints to Manage Conservation Efforts
    Researchers from Wageningen University and Research compiled thousands of photographs taken on Bonaire to analyze tourist activities and highlight...
  • Alarming Decline of Bridled Quail-Dove populations on Statia
    The Bridled Quail-dove is a regionally endemic species that, on Statia, is only found in upper elevations of the Quill (above ~150m) and inside the...
  • Sea and Learn: An innovative Approach to Raising Environmental Awareness
    This past October marked the 13th consecutive month-long Sea and Learn event on Saba. This award- winning event, organized each October since 2003 by...
  • BioNews 15-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter PRINT
  • Conservation Efforts Continued: New Vegetation on Te Amo Beach
    In the beginning of January, as part of the Ecological Restoration of Lac and the South of Bonaire, 50 green buttonwood trees (a native species of...
  • Scientists study Saba tropicbirds
    The Red-billed Tropicbird, a unique seabird that largely nests on Saba, direly needs more protection from predators such as feral cats and rats....
  • Sharks around Saba
    News item on high tech acoustic telemetry research on sharks around Saba.    This news article was published in BioNews 30.  BioNews is produced by ...
  • Coralita, we’re gonna beat ya!
    Having started in 2015, Utrecht University researchers Elizabeth Haber and Jetske Vaas (a.k.a. The Coralita Girls) thought it time to discuss their...
  • Seagrass: Vital for a Healthy Environment and Economy
    Recently the World Seagrass Association with the help of GRID-Arendal, United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and UNEP World Conservation and...
  • BioNews 15 - April 2014
    This month’s issue is all about migration. An exciting discovery in Venezuela of bats originally tagged on Aruba and Bonaire, confirms their long...
  • BioNews 5-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews 5-2017 includes the following news-items: Status Of St. Eustatius’s Reef Nature on St. Eustatius Hit Hard by Hurricanes BRUV Work In The...
  • Watershed-to-Reef: New Approach for Coral Reef Management
    Results from a 2020 study highlight the interconnectivity between watershed areas and neighboring coral reefs on the island of Bonaire. This study...
  • AlgaePARC: Bringing Innovation to Bonaire
    A collaborative effort between private, government and university partners, has been working to develop a microalgae production test facility on...
  • Kingdom Report Sounds Alarm on Biodiversity Conservation in the Dutch Caribbean
    Only Four of Twenty Biodiversity Targets On Track to Achieve Goals in the Dutch Caribbean A recently published report issued by the Kingdom of the...
  • Coral Reef Rehabilitation in the Dutch Caribbean
    The Dutch Caribbean islands are recognized worldwide for their healthy reefs and outstanding dive sites. Nevertheless, while these reefs are showing...
  • BioNews 16-2018 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Milieuramp op Sint-Maarten
    Door de orkaan Irma lekt bij Sint-Maarten diesel in zee en is koraal zwaar beschadigd. Het duurt jaren voor de palmen terug zijn. Orkaan Irma heeft...
  • Three New Species of Birds Identified on Bonaire
    2019 proved to be an exciting year for birders on Bonaire, as three new species have been identified. The Brown-chested martin, Whitecollared swift...
  • Baited Remote Underwater Video monitoring: what's all the fuss?
    Researchers from the University of Wageningen under the leadership of sheries biologist Dr. Martin de Graaf and Twan Stoffers, have been working for...
  • 71st annual conference of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute
    The 71st annual conference of the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) was held in San Andres, (Colombia) from 5–9 November 2018. This...
  • BioNews 37 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • BioNews 14 - March 2014
    This month’s issue focuses on marine monitoring. The results of the 2013 lobster fisheries monitoring project on the Saba Bank are in and on Curaçao...
  • Status of St. Eustatius’s Reef
    Five major studies of St. Eustatius’ coral reefs have taken place over the past five years and have shed light on the rapid decline of the island’s...
  • Diurnal reptile is found to be active during full moon
    Generally, species are described as being diurnal or nocturnal active, depending on physiological limitations; diurnal species are not able to...
  • Marine biodiversity research expedition on Bonaire
    An international research team will come to Bonaire from 21 October to 9 November 2019 to investigate its marine biodiversity. Although Bonaire’s...
  • 8th meeting of the Dutch Caribbean Committee for Marine Biodiversity and Fisheries
    On November 24th 2015, the Committee for the joint management of Marine Biodiversity and Fisheries (CMBF) of the Dutch Caribbean (aka EEZ Committee)...
  • Exciting Rare Sighting in the Dutch Caribbean: the Antillean manatee
    Exciting Rare Sighting in the Dutch Caribbean: theAntillean manatee Last month STINAPA’s ranger Luigi Eybrecht was diving near Playa in Bonaire when...
  • More than half of Saba’s nature affected by Irma
    THE BOTTOM – About 60 percent of Saba’s nature in general was devastated as a result of the recent hurricane Irma. According to Kai Wulf, Park...
  • Evaluation of vegetation development on the Dutch Caribbean islands
    In November 2019, vegetation scientists from Wageningen Environmental Research and Carmabi visited Bonaire, to study the succession of the vegetation...
  • 69th Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Cayman Islands
    7 November 2016 - 11 November 2016  The Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) is a non-profit organization that promotes the exchange of...
  • Sargassum management brief
    In light of recent and recurring influxes of sargassum on the islands of the Dutch Caribbean, the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance has drafted a...
  • Population Structure and Connectivity of Reef-building Corals in the Southern Dutch Caribbean
    A new study will examine the genetic connectivity of corals located around the ABC islands. The goal is to find a link between the spatial...
  • Save our Sharks project
    The Dutch Caribbean is poised to benefit from a new funding initiative provided by the Dutch Postcode Lottery aimed at an essential conservation...
  • Nature on St. Eustatius Hit Hard by Hurricanes
    Nature on St. Eustatius has been heavily affected by hurricane Irma and Maria that struck the island in the early morning of Wednesday 6 September...
  • The path to Coral Recovery: Scientific Foundations and Practical Lessons
    During the 2019 edition of the DCNA Convention on Bonaire, biologists from local protected area management organizations including Aruba National...
  • New Diadema project aims to restore sea urchins in Saban and Statian waters
    The new RAAK PRO Diadema project aims to restore long spined sea urchin populations (scientific name Diadema antillarum) on the coral reefs around...
  • Endangered Dutch Iguana species put on the map
    With the accession of the islands of Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius as special municipalities of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the list of ‘Dutch...
  • Worth Its Salt: Bonaire’s Cargill Salt Ponds Designated a Shorebird Site of Regional Significance
    Worth Its Salt: Bonaire’s Cargill Salt Ponds Designated a Shorebird Site of Regional Significance Imagine a vast expanse of rectangular saline ponds...
  • Caribbean island launches plan to remove invasive rats and goats
    The remote Caribbean island of Redonda, part of Antigua and Barbuda, is home to numerous species of plants and animals found nowhere else on earth....
  • Genetic Testing to Measure Sea Turtle Conservation Success
    Researchers from University of Groningen recently used genetic testing to identify the geographical birthplaces of green sea turtles foraging within...
  • Florida Keys Sea Turtle Workshop
    December 2nd – December 4th 2016 Since its inception, the annual Florida Keys Sea Turtle Rehabilitation workshop, in partnership with the Wider...
  • Vegetable cultivation on Bonaire 
    Vegetable cultivation on Bonaire It seems easy to grow vegetables on Bonaire, with the heat and the sun. However, there are many difficulties, such...
  • Importance of Native Seagrass in the Fight Against Erosion
    A recent study worked to quantify seagrass’s ability to minimize erosion in shallow water of Lac Bay, Bonaire. In addition, this study examined how...
  • Financing Nature Conservation
    Ensuring the sustainable management of natural resources in the Caribbean Netherlands: a look into the financial needs of Protected Area Management...
  • BRUV Work In The Dutch Caribbean
    Data collection with stereo Baited Remote Underwater Videos (sBRUV) deployed throughout the islands of the Dutch Caribbean over the past few years is...
  • BioNews 27 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Science directors and staff of CIEE and CNSI
    News items on: Caribbean Netherlands Science Institute (CNSI), St. Eustatius CIEE Research Station Bonaire   This news article was published in ...
  • Bats of St. Eustatius
    In 2015, Naturalis Biodiversity Center set out to create a baseline study of St. Eustatius’ marine and terrestrial fauna and flora in collaboration...
  • Rats be Gone: Rodent control begins on St. Eustatius
    Sint Eustatius:---The island of Sint Eustatius has initiated an ambitious two-year project to reduce the number of rats on the island. The project...
  • BioNews 32 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • Box Jellies of Bonaire
    This news item focuses on three of the well-documented box jellies of Bonaire:  - Tamoya ohboya. The Bonaire Banded Box Jelly - Alatina alata. The...
  • BioNews special: Yarari Marine Mammal and Shark Sanctuary
    The Dutch Caribbean is an important area for marine mammals, sharks and rays. More than twenty marine mammal and thirty shark and ray species are...
  • Designing the optimal artificial reef
    A new study compared the effectiveness of three popular artificial reefs to increase fish densities around Saba and St Eustatius. The researchers...
  • Port Sampling as a cost-effective method to monitor cetaceans within the Caribbean Netherlands
    Cetacean monitroing in the Dutch Caribbean   This news article was published in BioNews 17. BioNews is produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature...
  • BioNews 6-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews 6-2017 includes the following news-items: Saba: hurricane impacts St. Eustatius: rat control program Fieldwork on seagrass ecosystem services...
  • Emergency assistance contriubtes to the spread of invasive exotics
    Hurricane Maria devasted several Caribbean islands in 2017. A major relief campaign was launched to help the affected population of the Commonwealth...
  • Beach Debris on Aruba
    A large-scale study of beach debris on Aruba has shown just how much marine debris pollution there is on the island’s beaches. The study also locates...
  • Restoration of Key Biodiversity Areas of St. Maarten
    In July 2017, Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC) Foundation initiated a project to restore coastal and terrestrial biodiversity by...
  • Rat Invaders: Islands Fighting Back Against Killer Rodents
    Since the furry stowaways landed here aboard sealing and whaling ships in the 19th century, they've been wreaking ecological havoc on the island and...
  • WWF Policy Brief: CREATING EFFECTIVE, SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT IN THE CARIBBEAN NETHERLANDS
    Throughout the Caribbean, like in the rest of the world, the abundance of marine fish species have been declining over the past decades. The health...
  • Caribbean Birding Trail training on Bonaire
    Twenty-two Caribbean Birding Trail Guides were certified on Bonaire in September 2016 at the end of an intense week long training workshop....
  • Nature in the Dutch Caribbean is critically threatened and intervention is necessary
    Wageningen University recently published an alarming report on the threatened natural resources on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. The Dutch...
  • Curacao’s New Underwater Research Station
    Plans for a cutting edge, underwater research station ‘PROTEUS™’ have recently been released.  The modular design, inspired by coral polyps, will...
  • Caribbean biodiversity on-line
    Many publications on the Caribbean Flora and Fauna have recently become accessible online via a new database at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in...
  • Saba: Hurricane Impacts
    Since the passage of hurricanes Irma and Maria through the windward islands, the staff of the dive operators on Saba, comprising Saba Divers, Sea...
  • A Critically Endangered Palm Found Only on Bonaire
    A recent report describes, for the first time in its history, the critically endangered Bonaire Palm.  Although first documented in 1979, it took...
  • Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network training workshop
    Kai Wulf, Tadzio Bervoets, Melanie Meijer zu Schlochtern and Steve Piontek represented the Caribbean Netherlands at the Global Coral Reef Monitoring...
  • Global Defaunation and Plant Invasion: cascading effects on seagrass ecosystem services
    Ecosystems have been providing our society with useful services to sustain us in our livelihood, survival and health for as long as we exist....
  • Mesoamerican Reef gets improving bill of health
    The Healthy Reefs Initiative released its report card on the state of the Mesoamerican Reef. In the last decade, the grade has risen from poor to...
  • ROADMAP TOWARDS EFFECTIVE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT ON THE CARIBBEAN NETHERLANDS
    EXCERPT FROM: MAS PISKA PA BONEIRU: A SOCIAL MAPPING STUDY OF THE FISHERIES SECTOR OF BONAIRE, ST. EUSTATIUS AND SABA.   For the special...
  • BioNews 1-2017 Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    A dedicated Saba Bank Symposium was organised by the University of Wageningen in December 2016. The Symposium was held in Den Helder and brought...
  • BioNews 22- Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • BioNews 38 - Dutch Caribbean Newsletter
    BioNews is a newsletter produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature Alliance (DCNA) which focuses on science and conservation in the Dutch Caribbean....
  • NetBiome meeting, Reunion
    Overseas Countries, Territories and Regions (OCT/Ors) of Europe working together for sustainable management and research of biodiversity In June,...
  • St. Eustatius: rat control program
    Introduced predators such as cats, dogs, and rats can be found all over St. Eustatius and are a primary threat to the island's biodiversity. Rats,...
  • Presentations, Workshops and Excursions Provide New Nature Conservation Drive in Participants
    During the 2019 edition of the DCNA convention held on Bonaire end of October, biologists from the region met to thoroughly discuss coral restoration...
  • Science director and staff of CARMABI
    News items on: Research Station CARMABI, Curacao   This news article was published in BioNews 24. BioNews is produced by the Dutch Caribbean Nature...
  • Exploring the Saba Bank’s Deep Sea
    During the fifth leg of the NICO expedition researchers from NIOZ Sea Research, Wageningen Marine Research and Naturalis Biodiversity Center studied...
  • Coral restoration
    Coral reef protection is the process of modifying human activities to avoid damage to healthy coral reefs and to help damaged reefs recover. The key...
  • Study Highlights Importance of Restoring Simpson Bay Lagoon, St Maarten
    In 2019 a collaborative study of the Simpson Bay Lagoon on St. Maarten introduced the “Triple Bottom Line” management strategy, which emphasized the...
  • Saba Bank: coral status and trends
    The University of Wageningen (IMARES) has participated in research voyages to the Saba Bank in 2011, 2013 and 2015. Monitoring of coral reefs has...
  • Two species of endangered elasmobranch are recommended to receive additional protection in the Caribbean
    Thanks to the efforts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the critically endangered largetooth sawfish and the threatened silky shark have...
  • Assisted natural recovery of sea urchin populations around Saba and St. Eustatius
    Diadema sea-urchins play a vital role in maintaining a balanced coral reef ecosystem by grazing away algae and creating bare substrate for coral...
  • Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean meeting, Curaçao
    18 to 22 May 2015, the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean (AMLC) held its 37th Scientific Conference on Curaçao. The conference was...
  • Fieldwork on Seagrass Ecosystem Services: Lac, Bonaire
    Seagrasses are essential components of coastal zones ecosystems due to their extremely high productivity and the high biodiversity they support. ...

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